Folding stand for pressing irons



April 21, 1931. A. E ZIMMERMANN 1,891,476,

FOLDING STAND FOR PRESSING IRONS Filed July 28, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Apr. 21, 1931 PATENT OFFICE ANNA EDELINE ZIMMERMANN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA FOLDING STAND FOR PRESSING IRONS Application filed July 28,

My invention relates to improvements especially in ironing board stands for electric or other pressing irons.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved iron stand adapted to nest compactly with an ironing board when not in use and especially to provide an iron stand for folding ironing boards. It is a further object of my invention to provide an ironing 16 stand which automatically folds up in cooperation with a folding ironing board.

It is another object of my invention to provide an iron stand which keeps cool and which transmits a minimum of heat to the ironing board.

Further objects of my invention are to provide a simple rugged stand and one which may be produced at relatively small cost.

Other objects of my invention concern cer- 2o tain advantageous structural and functional improvements in stands of the character set forth and still other and ancillary objects will be suggested in the following description and in the use of devices of my invention.

The objects of invention may be variously combined.

-Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an improved iron stand embodying my invention. The stand is shown attached to an ironing board and is unfolded ready for use. Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same. Figure 3 is a side elevation of the iron stand folded and nested with a folded ironing board. Fig ure 4 is a vertical median longitudinal sectionof a modified folding iron stand, with its folded position indicated by dash lines. Fig ure 5 is a bottom plan view of the pusher slide for raising the iron stand of Figure 4;. Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail section of one of the folding legs which support the non stand of Figure 4.

The devices of my invention are adapted for, attachment to folding ironing boards of various conventional types. These folding ironing boards are generally characterised by some sort of pivotal connection, which 18 most often positioned between the ironing board and a vertical wall or cabinet, permitting the. ironing board to be swung up fiush 1928. Serial 110.195.96 2.

against the wall or into the cabinet. The pivotal connection may be a simple hinge or may be a more complicated drifting or slidinghinge, and various dimensions and spacings are commonly employed in the assembly. For purposes of illustration the ironing board 2 shown in Figures 1 to 3, is simply pivoted by a fixed (as distinguished from a sliding) hinge 4 to a narrow supporting block 6, which in turn is fixed to the wall 8. It must be noted, however, that various other suspensions are commonly employed and that my invention is applicable in general and with certain superficial modifications to practically any ironing board which folds or pivots from horizontal to vertical position.

An iron stand, preferably incorporating improvements set forth in my copending application Serial No. 291,815 filed July 11, 1928, is provided for attachment to the iron I ing board. The stand preferably consists essentially of a heat-intercepting metal-asbestos base portion 9, having an iron-supporting grille 12 of small top surface area supported above and in spaced relation to the base portion by the rim of the latter. The iron stand is provided with supporting members 14 of open rectangular shape extending the full width of the iron stand one at each end t ieroof; the ends of the base portion 9, of the lat- Cl? ter being crimped down under and around the upper sides of the open rectangles 1% to secure the stand thereto. The members 14 are adapted to lie adjacent opposite sides of the ironing board so that the stand with its supporting members straddles the board.

Means are provided for securing the iron stand movably to the ironing board. A pair of identical and parallel levers 16 are pivotally secured at their fulcrums to opposite sides of the ironing board by screws 18. The forward or supporting ends of the levers are pivotally attached by pins 20 to the lower portions of the supporting members 14, and the free or actuating ends of the levers eX- tend backward toward and almost to the wall 8 under the block 6.

It will be apparent that if the free or actuating ends of levers 16 are moved downward so as to limit its upward movement.

the iron stand will be raised up from the surface of the ironing board (to the position shown in Figures 1 and 2), and it the levers are released the stand will drop down flush with the surface of the board (as shown in Figure 3).

Stops 22 are provided for limiting upward movement of the stand. The stops are simply flatplates adapted to be screwed to the top of the ironing board, so as to project slightly beyond the opposite sides thereof and into the space within the open-rectangular sup porting members 14; i. e., into the path of the lower side of each member 14 (see Figure 1) Two stops 522 are provided for each member 14; being positioned on opposite sides of the pivot point 20. When the iron stand is in its uppermost position it is held solidly against the plural stops 22. \Vhen the iron stand is released it drops away from the stops 22 and is free to pivotally adapt itself about the pins to lie flat against the ironing board.

In order to raise the iron stand into operative position when the board is in operative (i. e. horizontal) position, an abutment or dogis provided in the path the free or actuating end of each lever 16. The abutments, "in this instance, are constituted dir'ectlyhy the block 6 which secures the ironing board to the wall; bearing plates 24: being screwed to the underside of the block 6 in line with the levers 18. In the absence of a convenient abutment block 6, the bearing plates 24 would be formed of angle iron having one leg secured to the wall 8 with the other leg projecting out to constitute a proper abutmentfor the lovers 18.

It will be observed from the drawings, that the levers are proportioned, and the fulcrum, pivot and abutment-points are positioned so that when the ironing board is horizontal. the actuating ends of levers 16 will abut against the dogging block (3, causing these actuating ends of the levers to be held down so that the iron stand is held up or supported above the surface of the board in the position shown in Figure 1.

In operation, when the ironing board is swung down about it hinge +L from the vertical position of Figure 3 to the horizontal position of Figure 2, the free end oi? each lever 16 is stopped by the abutment 6, Causing the iron stand to be elevated from the surface of the board. Conversely, when the board is swung back to vertical position, the levers l6 naturally disengage from the abutment, andthe iron stand drops down against the J boa-rd, so that the board with its attached stand, maybe nested closely against the wall.

\Vith various modified ironing board suspensions and proportions, it is obvious that variations will be made in the corresponding proportions of the levers 16, and relative positions of the pivot and fulcrum pins 18 and Q0 and abutment plates 24.

One modified form of the device of my invention will be described. An ironing board 28 (Figure 4) is pivoted to supporting arms 30 which in turn are pivoted (outside the ran e of Figure 4) to a wall 8.

he iron stand, instead of straddling the board 28, is foldably supported from the top surface thereof by crank arms 32, which displace the supporting meml'zers 1d of the previously described embodiment of my invention. The crank arms 32 are generally 2- shaped with their two bearing pins formed by the parallel horizontal legs of the Z5 (see Figure 6). The upper bearing pins 32a of the cranks are pivotally received in bearings formed by expressed ribbons 9a of the iron stand base member; one near each corner thereof. The lower pins 32?), of the cranks are pivotally secured to the ironing board by hearing caplike members 33 screwed to the top surface of the board. The cranks 32 constitute folding legs permitting the stand to be swung down flush upon the board or to be raised to the position shown in Figure 4.

Means are provided for limiting the motion of cranks 32 so that the iron stand may collapse backward toward the wall, but not forward away therefrom. The cranks 32 are extended beyond the lower pins 321) to form feet 320 perpendicular to the pins 32?) and skew to the crank arms, so that when the cranks are positioned to hold the stand in uppermost position the feet 320 will lie against the board as shown in Figures 4 and 6, thereby preventing further rotation of the cranks in a direction away from the wall 8.

Means are provided for raising the iron stand when the ironing board is swung down to horizontal or operative position, while permitting the stand to fold when the ironing board is swun to vertical or inoperative position. A pudl er member 34 extends vertically up through a longitudinal slot 28a in the ironing board, and engages the rear side of the ironing stand, i. e. the side thereof nearest the wall 8. The vertically extending pusher member is cast integral with a horizontal base carriage 34a adapted to lie beneath the ironing board, and slidably supported thereunder for movement toward and from the wall 8 by opposed pairs of brackets 36 screwed to the under side of the board.

The base carriage is proportioned and its pusher member is positioned so that when the ironing board is in horizontal or operative position, the end of the carriage will extend back into contact with a bearing plate 38 screwed against the wall 8, and the pusher member will be in its forwardmost position remotest from the wall.

It will be apparent that when the board is horizontal, the pusher member will hold the iron stand in upraised position. When the board is raised and folded against the wall, the pusher member and its carriage will drop down under the influence of gravity, and will release the iron stand so that it also may drop down flush against the ironing board, as shown by dash lines in Figure 4. Conversely, when the board is lowered again to operative position the carriage 34a will act as a cam follower against the wall 8, sliding along the plate 38 and in turn being shoved outward to raise the iron stand to operative position.

It will be noted that in both illustrated embodiments of applicants invention, a portion of the adjusting gear depends down below the top surface of the ironing board. This arrangement allows the iron stand to nest compactly against the board. In the embodiment of Figure 1, the supporting and actuating levers 16 extend down the sides of the ironing board below its top surface; and in the embodiment of Figure 4, the pusher member 34 extends down through a slot in the board.

I have described two embodiments of my invention in detail, but it is emphasized that these embodiments are illustrative and not inclusive of all the forms my invention may assume. Certain of the objects, or certain portions or combinations of the objects of my invention may be attained with the use of less than all its advantageous features or with modifications within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An iron stand comprising a heat intercepting base portion, an iron-supporting grille spaced above said base portion, and a collapsible support for supporting said base portion selectively in spaced relation or in juxtaposition to supporting surface.

2. An iron stand comprising a heat intercepting base portion, an iron-supporting member of relatively small top surface area spaced appreciably above said base portion, and means for supporting said base portion spaced appreciably above supporting surface.

3. In combination with an ironing board and an upright support for said board on which said board is mounted to swing uprard with its top toward said support, an iron-supporting stand, and connecting means movably supporting said stand across the top of said board for movement of said stand toward and away from said top of said board.

a. In combination with an ironing board and an upright support for said board on which said board is mounted to swing upward with its top toward said support, an iron-supporting stand, and connecting means pivotally connected to said stand and said board, supporting said stand across the top of said board for movement of said stand toward or away from said top of said board.

5. In combination with an ironing board and an upright support for said board on which said board is mounted to swing upward with its top toward said support, an iron-supporting stand having a heat-insulating bottom, and connecting means movably supporting said stand with its bottom presente: toward the top of said board for movement of said stand toward or away from said top of said board while keeping said bottom of said stand presented toward said top of said board.

6; In ation with an ironing board and an upri.

ut support for said board on which said board is mounted to swing upward with its top toward said support, an iron-supportin g stand having a heat-insulating bottom, and connecting means pivotally connected to said stand and said board, supporting said stand with its bottom presented toward the top of said board for movement of said stanrtoward or away from said top of said board while keeping said bottom of said stand presented toward said top of said board.

'4'. In combination with an ironing board and an upright support for said board on which said board is mounted to swing upward with its top toward said support, an iron-supporting stand, connecting means movably supporting said stand across the top of said board for movement of said stand toward and away from said top of said board, and means limiting the movement of said stand away from said board.

8. In combination with an upright support and an ironing board mounted on said support to be extended therefrom for use or to be swung upward with its top toward said support, an iron-supporting stand movable to and from said top, and operating means movable on said board and engaging wlth said stand to move said stand away from said top of said board.

9. In combination with an upright support and an ironing board mounted on said support to be extended therefrom for use or to be swung upward with its top toward said support, an iron-supporting stand movable to and from said top, operating means movable on said board and engaging with said stand to move said stand away from said top of said board, and means opposing the action of said operating means to fix said stand a definite distance from said top of said board.

10. In combination with an upright support and an ironing board mounted on said support to be extended therefrom for use or to be swung upward with its top toward said support, an iron-supporting stand movable to and from said top, and operating means movable on said board and engaging with said stand to move said stand away from said top of said board, and engaging with said support whereby it is actuated to move said stand as aforesaid when said board is extended for use.

11. In combination with an upright support and an ironing board mounted on said support to be extended therefrom for use or to be swung upward with its top toward said support, on iron-supporting stand movable to and from said top, and operating means movable on said board and having an extension above said board engaging with said stand and having an extension below said board engaging with said supportwhereby it is actuated to move said stand away from said board when said board is extended for use.

ANNA EDELINE ZIMMERMANN. 

